When Republican Lang Sias lost his state Senate race to Democrat Evie Hudak, Democratic political consultants around the state breathed a big sigh of relief.

It wasn’t just about keeping the Jefferson County Senate seat in Democratic hands.

In Sias, they saw a future star for the Republican Party, one who could be dangerous on a GOP bench. Sias is a former Top Gun naval instructor with a sterling military record, a lawyer with a business background, a former Democrat and unaffiliated voter who once donated to Democrat Mark Udall’s congressional campaign. He was certain to garner press in the state Senate.

“Lang Sias scares the crap out of out me,” admitted political consultant Steve Welchert.

“I’ll take the praise but I’d rather have a victory,” Sias said today.

Few remembered what Republican Ryan Frazier’s ad was about: the cartwheeling — which Perlmutter did in Commerce City’s Memorial Day parade — became the topic of conversation.

This time around, Perlmutter faces Republican Joe Coors, who again is going after the bank vote but minus the acrobatics. The ad accuses Perlmutter of adding special wording into a bill that benefits the kind of banks he had a financial interest in.

Perlmutter’s spokeswoman Leslie Oliver said Coors’ ad might not have cartwheels but it’s nothing more than “rehash.”

“It didn’t work two years ago and it’s not going to work this election,” she said.

“The Big Oil Fat Cat would like to know where these congressmen and candidates stand on corporate welfare tax breaks for Big Oil,” said Gary Wockner of Clean Water Action. “Should Congress give average Americans a tax break and support wind and solar, or will Congress continue to give the most profitable industry in America the biggest subsidies and tax breaks?”

He pointed to a 2011 Wall Street Journal story that reported the top five oil companies the previous year made $137 billion in profits.

Joe Coors had a friendly encounter with the Wheat Ridge police today on the campaign trail in the 7th Congressional District while visiting a tire store. (Coors campaign)

Congressional candidate Joe Coors had a friendly encounter with the cops this morning after he stopped by B&F Tires with some doughnuts and coffee.

The visit was part of Coors’ “Java with Joe,” where he visits a business in the 7th Congressional District, greets customers and sometimes tours the enterprise. Coors is trying to unseat Democrat Ed Perlmutter. A customer at the tire shop — on West 38th Avenue a few block east of Wadsworth Boulevard — called his wife to ask her to bring his 99-year-old dad over to could meet Coors.

“We had a few minutes between waiting for the supporter to arrive so we broke out into an impromptu sign waiving session outside of the store,” Coors spokeswoman Michelle Yi said. “Two Wheat Ridge police officers pulled over while we were sign waiving. We thought they were going to tell us that we were doing something wrong but all they wanted to do was meet Joe.

But this year Frazier can think of one big reason to send Sias to the state Senate: “A Top Gun fighter pilot or a union puppet?” Frazier asked in a letter to voters.

Sias is challenging state Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, who is seeking a second term. Her supporters say she has worked tirelessly for her Senate district on quality-of-life issues such as jobs, the economy and all levels of education.

You're going to need a lot of these to attend Paul Ryan's fundraisers.

UPDATE:A GOP organizer said both events for Paul Ryan, organized with three days warning, netted $1 million in donations. The original story said $3 million, which was an error.

Colorado Republicans wrote some pretty big checks tonight at fundraisers for veep hopeful Paul Ryan, who attended two events on his behalf.

About 90 people RSVP’d to attend a $2,500 a person reception at the home of Lanny and Sharon Martin, who live in one of the Denver Art Museum residences. About 40 people RSVP’d to a private, $25,000 a couple dinner at the Denver home of Michael and Amber Fries, members of the fundraising host committee.

Other members of the host committee for the Ryan fundraisers included Pete and Marilyn Coors, Diane and Charlie Gallagher, state Treasurer Walker Stapleton, Suzy and Mike Leprino, David McReynolds, John and Carol Seaman and Anna and John Sie.

Meanwhile, Denver resident Don Childers, CEO of the Colorado Banking Association, hosted a $500 per person fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, an Aurora Republican seeking his third term in the 6th Congressional District. House Speaker John Boehner attended that fundraiser.

Republican Lang Sias, on the congressional campaign trail in 2010, announced today is running for the state Senate in Jefferson County.

Republican Lang Sias, a former “Top Gun” flight instructor who ran for Congress in 2010, plans to run for the state Senate in hopes of unseating Democrat Evie Hudak.

Sias lost the GOP primary in the 7th Congressional District to Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier. But along the way his strong showing at the 7th CD Assembly stunned Frazier followers.

Some Republicans criticized Sias for also having been a Democrat and an unaffiliated voter and donating to Democrat Mark Udall’s congressional campaign. That might not be a bad thing in his swing Jefferson County Senate district.

Senate President Brandon Shaffer reiterated today he has no plans to resign his leadership position because of his run for Congress.

[media-credit name=”Special To The Denver Post, David Zalubowski” align=”alignright” width=”275″][/media-credit]

Senate President Brandon Shaffer, a Longmont Democrat.

Shaffer said he is able to “prioritize” his duties, whether it’s as a family man, lawmaker, Senate president or candidate.

The Longmont Democrat announced last summer he was running against U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. Although the newly drawn 4th Congressional District makes it even tougher for a Democrat to win, Shaffer said during an editorial board meeting at The Denver Post he hasn’t changed his plans.

“I am still running for Congress, and I have no intentions of stepping down as Senate president,” he said.

There’s definitely precedence for him staying on the job. Republican Tom Norton remained as Senate president in 1998 after announcing he planned to run for governor. Senate Democrats couldn’t complain: their minority leader, Mike Feeley, also was running for governor.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.